Ridge: GOP Would Accept Abortion-Rights VP

Former Pa. Gov. Who Supports Abortion Rights Is Mentioned As A Possible McCain Running Mate

(AP)  Former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge said Sunday he thinks Republicans would accept a vice presidential candidate who supports abortion rights.

But, he said, whomever John McCain picks as a running mate should defer to McCain on the issue.

McCain opposes abortion rights, but he riled some conservatives last week when he suggested his running mate could - like Ridge - support abortion rights.

"What he was saying to the rest of the world is that we need to accept both points of view," Ridge said in a broadcast interview. "He's not judgmental about me or my belief. He just disagrees with me."

With vice presidential picks coming any day now, several possible candidates for the No. 2 spot appeared on the Sunday talk shows.

Barack Obama will choose soon; the Democratic National Convention, where Obama and his running mate will be nominated, is just a week away.

Obama and his closest advisers are refusing to talk about the process, leaving his schedule as a source for possible clues. On Monday, he planned to visit New Mexico, home of Gov. Bill Richardson, and he planned to spend Wednesday and Thursday in Virginia, home of Gov. Tim Kaine.

Both governors were on the shows Sunday, but neither revealed whether they expected to be Obama's choice.

"I'm not going to talk about conversations with the campaign," Kaine said. He added, "I think it's very unlikely."

Obama's travels to Virginia and New Mexico don't necessarily mean anything about the vice presidential search; both are swing states that have been getting attention from his campaign.

On Saturday night during a forum at Sadddleback Church, Obama brought up another potential running mate - former Georgia Sen. Sam Nunn - when asked to name three people he would rely on for counsel as president. Obama listed Nunn after his wife and grandmother.

Ridge is believed to be on McCain's short list of vice presidential candidates, though it would be a major break with Republican orthodoxy for McCain to pick a running mate who supports abortion rights.

"I think that would be up to, first of all, to John to decide whether he wants a pro-choice running mate; then we would have to see how the Republican Party would rally around it," Ridge said. "At the end of the day, I think the Republican Party will be comfortable with whatever choice John makes."

McCain's statement last week was seen as an appeal to centrist voters. On Sunday, Ridge tried to soothe conservatives by stating that McCain's view on the issue would prevail in a McCain administration.

"The last time I checked, the vice president is not an independent voice. He echoes the position of the president of the United States," Ridge said. "I think it's the responsibility of the vice president. If you're unwilling or unable to do that, then I think you should defer to someone else."

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, another possible McCain running mate, said "no window's open" to him being the vice presidential nominee. "He's not going to ask," Jindal said. "I don't want to be vice president. I'm not going to be the nominee."

Ridge was interviewed on "Fox News Sunday." Kaine and Jindal were on NBC's "Meet the Press."

[cfin5]

Posted by Voltaire777 at 12:25 AM : Aug 19, 2008--- Hey Voltron (favorite cartoon hero?), your the one getting trigger happy with the "ENTER" button seeing your "3 round burst" to try and up my whit. Give it another shot,.....you didn''t even hit the target yet. I don''t pick on simpletons to hard wearing stupor hero capes and masks,....its just not fair.

[cfin5]

Posted by laborsvoice at 08:35 PM : Aug 18, 2008---- Uhm,,...HELLO! Your party murdered off nearly 50 million "AMERICAN UNION-MADE PRODUCT PURCHASING CUSTOMERS" since 1973. Who do you think was buying the cars you made,....the communist nations your side LOVES so much? Bet you''d like to have those customers right now wouldn''t you? You "DOOFUSSACRATS" are bigger suckers than any other party in the history of this nation.

[starleo146]

I don''t care if he is for abortion rights that is a state issue, and a personal issue, not an issue to inflame everyone as the republicans do.My point is Mc Bush is what 72 yrs old maybe 92 I don''t know or care, but do any of you think if he keels over that Ridge would qualify as president. He was in charge of that horrible office Homeland Security that kept things instead of giving them to the people of the Katrina hurricane victims, that needed them. Probably hired "Brownie" what a mess what a total mess, Mc Bush never talks about this country always war, and Russia be warned, I will stay in Iraq 100 years, what about us Mc Bush have you noticed us at all, or is it because it is easier to blame Obama rather than talk about what you and Bush have done to this country.

[lochlan-2009]

With mccains age, his VP choice needs to be prepared to be president on day 2


Posted by zerato

That is pretty much what they are expecting.

[homespunlady]

And oh, by the way NEOCONS can be found in BOTH Republican and Democratic Parties.

[homespunlady]

Oh well. Doctor and Congressman Ron Paul is having an EXCELLENT RALLY the first 2 days of the Republican Convention and just a few blocks away if all the BLOCKHEAD one issue people NOW losing their homes to foreclosure and their SAVINGS to NEOCON money-changers are disillusioned by NEOCON LIES.

The gullible emotion before thought bunch FORGET how sound byte emotional trigger manipulation got them there and just keep voting how they''re manipulated- even IF it''s AGAINST the BEST interest of our nation.

READ FOLKS and THINK FOR ONCE rather than fall for the SAME old song and dance.
EVERY self proclaimed "fiscal conservative" (Republican) President since Reagan has left this nation FURTHER IN DEBT
IRONICALLY, the "tax and spender" (Clinton)has been the ONLY one to leave this nation BETTER off financially, with a budget surplus, welfare to workfare, relative peace and international respect.

NOW, what is it? THREE WARS AT THE SAME TIME, approaching more than a TRILLION dollar BUDGET DEFICIT, FORECLOSURES while the ELITE get MULTI-MILLION payoffs for DESTROYING our children''s futures?

DON''T fall for the HYPE.

The voters have ALREADY BEEN FOOLED TWICE. What will be the SHAME for being fooled a THIRD TIME?

[lostcause09]

mccain loves to toe tap

[ibzjem]

please don''t be a ONE issue voter. Look at them all. If you are going to vote on one issue you must ask yourself, what in the last 3-4 presidencies has happened with that issue and what if any change has is made? If you have no answer, or don''t like the answer you find, then don''t vote on that issue alone.

[usclimey]

As a voter who has not missed a vote in over 20 years and supports the Conservative Cause: If McCain choses an abortion rights VP I can not support, vote for him. This has to be a litmus test if the GOP has any real hope in securing the next Presidency.

Posted by RighttoLife

I would sooooo like you all to split off and form your own right to life party - then you''d find out just how far in the minority you really are.

[chitown639]

Come on McCain....PICK TOM RIDGE!!!

[righttolife]

As a voter who has not missed a vote in over 20 years and supports the Conservative Cause: If McCain choses an abortion rights VP I can not support, vote for him. This has to be a litmus test if the GOP has any real hope in securing the next Presidency.

[zerato-2009]

With mccains age, his VP choice needs to be prepared to be president on day 2

[cfin5]

Posted by langx at 05:57 AM : Aug 18, 2008---- The GLOBALISTS that are in our Government both democrat and republican. Voting for it before they were against it doesn''t cut it in today''s instant information via the internet.

[langx]

The people these goopers elect could care less about guns or abortion. It''s just a way to get the stupid people to vote for them.

If your not a millionaire there is no reason for you to vote Republican.

Your voting to keep your own self down.

The Republican party shouldn''t exist in this country.
Due to a lack of intelligence and racism they can thrive.

[langx]

You wouldn''''''''t think of killing a convicted murderer Murdering, and that without any form of anesthesia, an unborn child at any stage past the point of conception, will be on your heads. You wouldn''''''''t think of killing a convicted murderer these days unless it dis involved pain,.....why do you switch your standard of judgment against an innocent human being?
Posted by cfin5 at 10:29 PM : Aug 17, 2008
Who''s head is responsible for all the death in Iraq.

[nanging3]

McCain need to get Colin Powell for VP or Hillary !
The country can have a dem & rep !

[nanging3]

Ridge is dead wrong. GOP will not accept abortion rights, especially live birth.

[allurfears]

With all of the years of Republican rule in Congress and the Presidency you''d think they would have made abortion illegal by now. Instead, they just played y''all to get your votes. LMFAO.

[cfin5]

I know everyone''s heard of PC, political correctness. Hold that thought! Conservatives look at more than that to the likes of RC, religion correctness (ecumenicism), as well as EC, economic correctness (global socialism),.....we''ll have "none of the above". Just obey the Constitution folks, it''s the "FAIREST CONSTITUTION" in the world to protect your choices in life. For in the end, you and you alone WILL be held accountable for your own decisions. Murdering, and that without any form of anesthesia, an unborn child at any stage past the point of conception, will be on your heads. You wouldn''t think of killing a convicted murderer these days unless it dis involved pain,.....why do you switch your standard of judgment against an innocent human being?

[acarponzo]

Bring it on at http://www.bop-o-rama.com. This live realtime online poll is where the action is. McSame and a moderate VP? Obama with a moderate VP? Duke it out.